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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this DVD is designed for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages letting children under 2 watch television or videos since this is a key period of growth and development. That said, having toy instruments (or real ones) on hand while watching this DVD can make it more fun, interactive, and educational. Also, the DVD's repetition, while an excellent way to reinforce learning for toddlers, will likely be yawn-inducing for older kids.

Families can talk about what kind of music they enjoy. Which instruments are their favorites? Which songs? After the video is over, parents can play the family's favorite music CDs and have children try to guess which instruments are in the songs.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Teresa Talerico

Is your baby a budding Beethoven? The next Bonnie Raitt? Quickly developing into a bona fide music aficionado? Regardless of their future relationship with music, toddlers will no doubt enjoy learning about musical instruments with BABY EINSTEIN: MEET THE ORCHESTRA: FIRST INSTRUMENTS.

The DVD's combination of puppets, simple animation, and real-life videos will delight almost anyone under 3. Adults and older kids will likely be bored by the constant repetition, but this element seems effective for introducing younger tots to the sound and look of trumpets, violins, and even bassoons.

The disc begins with segments on the brass, woodwind, string, and percussion sections of an orchestra (piano and guitar are also included). In each segment, cheerful cartoon animals -- from hippos to giraffes -- first play the instruments on a stage. The disc then features real-life kids playing the instruments, plus toddlers who play toy versions and inspect the real things. These scenes -- including comical shots of a little boy using a flute as a telescope and a baby investigating a tuba -- convey a sense of fun and confidence in experimenting with musical instruments.

Finally, the cartoon characters reintroduce the various instruments on stage, a scene that segues into a montage of real-life symphony orchestras, marching bands, and other musical ensembles. When all instruments have been introduced, the cartoon animal orchestra launches into a performance of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."

The DVD features the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss, and other classical composers throughout. And a Baby Einstein puppet provides comic relief with his regular appearances -- in one skit he wears a Jimi Hendrix-style headband, jams on an electric guitar and causes a female puppet to swoon.

Although the cartoon animals are stiffly animated and the classical music occasionally sounds, well, babyish, Meet the Orchestra is still a fun way to introduce tots to the world of music.

Families who enjoyed this DVD might also like Disney's Sing Along Songs and the Baby Einstein: Music Box Orchestra CD. They may also want to pick up other titles in the Baby Einstein video series.

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